Jerry en · PROPN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈd͡ʒɛɹi/
Etymology
Clipping + -y.
Meanings
-
A diminutive of the male given names Gerald, Gerard, Jeremy, Jeremiah, Jared, Jerome, Jermaine, Jerrold, and similar male given names.
There are many Nancies and Jerries in the world. They get told apart by a further name, such as Nancy Lovelace, or Jerry Turing.
2003, Ira Pohl, “Nested Classes”, in C# by Dissection: The Essentials of C# Programming, Boston, Mass.: Addison-Wesley, →ISBN, page 249:..."I, incidentally, am Jeremy Wilson, and anyone who abbreviates that to 'Jerry' does so at unspeakable peril." "Oh really?" Kay asked. "Why?" "Well, just a wartime hangover. We used to call the Germans 'Jerries'." "I don't know much about the German war."
1970, Santha Rama Rau, The Adventuress, page 157:We stated in our last that the award in this class was sent to Fowler & Vannatta’s Jerry, but this was a mistake which arose from the fact that there were two Jerrys in this class and both of them grade Herefords, one from Benton County, Ind., and one shown by Wallace Libby & Co., Ottawa, Ill. When the awards were made it was announced that Mr. Vannatta’s Jerry was the winner, and that breeder left for his home congratulating himself on the fact of having a winner on the block; […]
1886 November 25, “On the Block. A Grand Display of Meat at the Fat-Stock Show.”, in The Breeder’s Gazette. […], volume X, number 22 (261 overall), Chicago, Ill.: J[ames] H[arvey] Sanders & Co., […], page 785:If the names we give our children represent our hopes for the future, names like Kathie and Jerry, Darlene and Butch are dreams of contentment. […] Of course, the generation bestowed with those contented names ended up far from content. The little Kathies and Jerries born in 1950 grew up to be the protesters, free-lovers, and Woodstock attendees of 1969.
2009, Laura Wattenberg, “Mid-Century America”, in The Baby Name Wizard: A Magical Method for Finding the Perfect Name for Your Baby, 2nd edition, New York, N.Y.: Broadway Books, →ISBN:And Jerry would appear, his work-clothes clean and pressed, his thinning rust-red hair combed flat, his glasses round and earnest, and quietly fix whatever was wrong. There was a Mrs. Jerry, who kept the creases sharp and clean in the tan workpants, and several small Jerrys, whom Sawyer & Sloat invariably remembered at Christmas. Jack had been small enough to associate the name Jerry with Tom Cat’s eternal adversary [Jerry Mouse], and so imagined that the handyman and Mrs. Jerry and the little Jerrys lived in a giant mouse-hole, accessible by a curved arch cut into a baseboard.
1984, Stephen King, Peter Straub, The Talisman, New York, N.Y.: Viking, →ISBN, pages 169–170:Maxine grabbed the hair on the top of her head. “No, Jerry, I’m not talking hippy dippy. You’re not hearing me.” / Carla snickered. “I’m going to remember what he just said about nostalgia the next time he tells one of his Brown Beret stories.” She glanced around the table. “You may not know it, but Jerry is a sucker for stories with a moral to them.” / Vizenor shifted in his seat, cleared his throat. […] Carla looked at the Berkeley writer, startled. “I’m sorry, I forgot there were two Jerrys here. I was referring to the guy at the head of the table—Martinez.” There was uncomfortable laughter, then a long silence as the assembled activists eyed one another and sipped coffee. Jerry Vizenor leaned forward on his elbows and massaged his temples.
1997, Lawrence R[ichard] Smith, “Coalition”, in The Map of Who We Are: A Novel (American Indian Literature and Critical Studies Series; 24), Norman, Okla.; London: University of Oklahoma Press, →ISBN, page 245:
- A diminutive of the female given names Geraldine and Jerilyn.
- An unincorporated community in Asotin County, Washington, United States; named for early rancher Jerry McGuire.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jerries | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| Gerri | alternative | lexicographic | |
| Jheri | alternative | lexicographic | |
| Gerry | alternative | lexicographic | |
| Jerrys | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| Jerrie | alternative | lexicographic | |
| Jerri | alternative | lexicographic | |
| Jeri | alternative | lexicographic | |
| Geri | alternative | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Jerrys Plains · Jerry World · Tom-and-Jerry shop · Jerry Sneak · Berry Jerry